Thermostatically-controlled fuel valve



May. 5, 1925. 1,536,826

R.J.DOUGHERTY THERIOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED FUEL VALVE Filed 1924 2Sheets-Sheet P 170.1. I FZGZH.

5 J Douay/Ear);

' Patented May- 5,.

' "UNITE-D mom-m .r.v Downers; or rnrtnnnnrrrm, PENNSYLVANIA. I

THERKOSTATICALLY-CONTROLIJED- rum. VAINE Application filed August7,1924. Serial N-o. B0,7 72;

Teen whom 711) may 00mm.-

and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in 'lhermosta-ticall Controlled Fuel Valves, whereof thefolowing is a specification, reference'being had tothe accompanying draw;

ings.

iIiventionis designed and adapted for use in connection with a gas waterheater included in a house water supplysystem and comprising a containerwhichis a" hot water reservoir; with the object and effect of regulatingthe temperature of the water stored intsald reservoir. 7

IAS hereinafter described, my invention in.- chides the combination witha water container;v of a. burner arranged to heat the.

water in "said container; a main gas valve controlling a main fuel gasconduit leading a). said"burner; a bypass conduit leading tosaidburneraronnd said main valve; an

auxiliary valve controlling said bypass .con

duit, a spring arranged t0: normally close said, mainvalve; a singlethermostatic element, extending in said "container, and in operativerelation with both said valves, arran ed to continuallv hold saidauxiliary valveo e rbut, thereby .var'y'the efi'ective (ill areaoffsaid' bypas'a'in accordance with the a temperature :of theiwater insaid container, andl'arranged to open said main valve at apredeterminedtemperature, and permit said mainva'hie to be closed,"bysaid spring, at a r'e'dete'rm'inedtemperature and means adustable tovariablv determine the temperatuijes at which: said valves shall berespectively"operated,' in coordinated relation; by said thermostaticelement; whereby the heating'effect' of said burner is automatically determined andicontrolled'to. regulate the tem-' perature' of L'th' waterin said container-and compensate for fluctuations in such'temperatureconsequent {upon withdrawal of hot water and in'fli'ix o cold water tosaid container.

M'y invention'includes the'various novel features of construction andarrangement hereinafter, more'definitely specified.

. In said drawings 5Q Fig. I is diagrammatic perspective view er a ga'swater heater enihodvj'rig my improvements. v

plan viewof the thermostatically controlled fuel valve structure as'inwith respect V dicated in Fig. I showing the same in eleva- Be itknown; that I,.Ronnn r J. DOUGHERTY, I a. citizen of the United "Statesresiding at Philadelphia, in: the county of Philadelphia iona a c Fig.III is an axial sectional viewof said valve structure,

p I have found; it convenient 3 to illustrate my invention (in Fig. Iwith reference 'toi a.

gas water heater. oit-Tthe .general constrhction and arrangementclaimedinmy copend 111g application Serial No. 616,242 filed {February1,1923 iorLet'ters Patent bfjthe United States. In said figure; the.cylin drical tubnlarcasing shell ljhas thel-door 2 1ts circumference,afiord1ngaccess to the :burner 3 which ismounted within. the

burner compartment 5 in said shell. Said burner compartmentjis formed bythe skirt portion .7 a of said shell extending below the partitionS andincluding the, opening for said door. Said-partition8 formsthebov tomclosure of the water .container com: partment 9 insaid shell, whichhasthe top closure 10, The flue pipe 12 for theescape 5 of products ofcombustion from said burner 3 extends throughsaid water compartment 9,parallel with the axis oi? said casing, but in eccentric relationthereto, and .is conveniently rigidly connected with said elosnr-es 8and 10. by welded joints. Said partition 8 has the axialscrewthreadedop'enin'g 13 iorjthe hot water inletp'ipe 14: extending upwardlyfrom the water spreader 15, which is interposed between said burner- 3.3and said partition 8' and has the axial flange l6 provided-with anexternal screw thread 'fitted said-opening 13. ihe pipe 17, which isrigidly connected with thetop *closnrelO ofsaid water container 9extends-nearly to the bottom closurefiSofsaid container so as to supplythe latter with cold Water 18 from a municipal or other source.

Of; course, any water heated inthe structure above described iscorrespondingly ex-.

panded and ten-dsftorise-to the top of said container 9; whiletherelatively cold. water 18 gravitates into saidspreader 15 through theaxial openingwithin said flange 16 is distributed radially outward byar-dia phragm in said spreader so thatv it reaches the bottom convexwall of said spreader at its outer circumference and gravita'tes thencedownwardly toward the 1 center of said spreader.

The construction and arrangement of said spreader 15 are such that thecold water thus flowing into said spreader at the perimeter thereof, isheated so as to rise in said axial hot water pipe 14 which extendsnearly to the top of said container 9, so that hot water rising throughsaid pipe 14 may be almost directlv drawn oil through the pipe 23 whichleads to the dispensing faucets.

Of course, expansion of the water 18 within said spreader 15 causesprecipitation of any solid matter which is normally suspended andcarried in the water. Therefore, to enable the operator to eliminate anysediment deposited in the spreader, which would detract from itsefliciency of operation; I provide the bottom of the spreader with thedrain pipe 28 which has the stop cook 29 exterior to said casing 1, sothat, by opening said stop cock, any sediment in the spreader may berinsed out with the water thus drawn directly downward therethrough. I

Inthe form of my invention indicated in Fig. I; the burner 3 is suppliedwith gas through the pipe 30, under manual control of the stop cook 31,but also under automatic control of the thermostatically operative fuelvalve having the casing 33. Said casing 33 has the tubular extension 34provided with the screw head 35 detachably fitted in water-tightrelation with the spud 36 in said heater shell 1; so that thethermostatic tube 38 extends horizontally in the water 18 in thecontainer 9 but in tangential relation with a circle larger than theoutside diameter of said pipe 14, so as to clear the latter.

Said valve casing 33 has the internal partition 4O with the circularmain valve seat 41 thereon in coaxial relation with the valve stembearing 43 and the internally screw threaded seat 44 for the removableclosure plug 45, which latter'has the wrench hold 46 exterior to saidcasing. Said valve casing 33 also has the internally screw threaded pipeinlet seat 48 and pipe outlet seat 49 at respectively opposite sidesthereof, leading from respectively opposite sides of said partition 40.

The main gas valve 50 is a disk fitted to said valve seat 41 and havingtwo axial stems 51 and 52. projecting from respectively opposite sidesthereof; said stem 51 being fitted to slide in said axial stem hearing43. Said valve stem 52 merely serves to engage the spiral spring 55which is compressed between said plug and said valve and normally tendsto close said valve upon its seat and thus shut off the gas supply tosaid burner 3.

Said main valve 50 is arranged to be automatically operated by thethermostatic couple including said tube 38, which is conveniently formedof copper, and the carbon rod 57 which is connected to said tube 38 atits end remote from said valve casing 33, so that said rod 57 is movedax ially back and forth in accordance with the contraction and expansionof said tube 38; the expansion and contraction of said rod beingpractically negligible within the range of temperatures to which saidcouple is subjected in the embodiment described. Ordinarily, it isdesired to permit said main gas valve 50 to be closed by its springwhenever the water 18 in the container 9 reaches 170 F., and to opensaid valve, automatically, by the op eration of said thermostaticcouple, whenever the temperature of said water falls below 170 F. Thatresult might be attained by extending the stem 51 of said valve 50 sothat it contacts with the adjacent end of said carbon rod 57 when thevalve is in the closed position shown in Fig. 111 and the water at atemperature of 170 F., as any decrement in that terns perature of thewater would cause the copper tube 38 to contract and thrust said rod 57against the valve stem 51 to open the valve. However, a device of thatsimple character is not commercially practicable, for the reason thatthe flame at the burner 3 would be extinguished every time said valve 50closed, and unconsumed gas would be discharged through the burnerwhenever said valve 50 was thus automatically opened, unless the gas bemanually lighted which, of course, would require the constant attendanceof an operator. Therefore, attempts have been made to solve thatdifliculty by providing a bypass conduit around the main valve leadingto what is termed a pilot light, viz., a small burner 4, independent ofthe larger burner 3, but so located with respect thereto, that it servesto ignite gas discharged through said burner 3 whenever the mam valve isopened. However, those double burner structures have been foundobjectionable, because no provision is made therein for automaticallyvarying the volume of gas delivered to such pilot lights in accordancewith the temperature of the water heated and the pressure and flow ofgas not only differs in different locations of such heaters butfluctuates through a considerable range in any location and,consequently, it is impossible to predetermine the rate of flow of gasto such a pilot light so that it shall be sufficient to prevent saidlight from being accidentally extinguished and not more than is neededfor heating the water. Therefore, it has been found necessary to supplysuch a double burner, nary household average of fifty a large portionthe heat of its absorbed by gas water heater, with an cubic feet of gasper hour; of which is wasted because combustion is not entirely thewater and passes off with for an ordi- IOU burner 4, and, theflow offuel gas to that singleburner is controlled not only by the mam valve 501 aforesaidbut by an. auxiliary valvecontrollinga' by-pass around themain valve; both the volume of gas through said main valve port andthrough the bypass being automatically variably determined by thejsamethermostatically operative means.

Therefore, as shown in Fig. III; form a bypass conduit in said, casing33by drilling three holes respectively 59,60 and-61 therein; leadingfromithe, inlet to the outlet side of said partition 40 andthrough theseat 63 forrthe cylindrical plunger valve 64: by whichthe efi'ectiveareaoi said bypass conduit, is varied. a

AS di ated in Figs-II IV and V'; said valve 64 is ,a cylindrical metalbody having itscend adjoining said carbon rod'57 rigidly connectedtherewith,;conveniently by solder connecting with an electroplatedcopper film on said rod Said-valve body 64 has the port,65 comprising-adrilled hole extending diametrically therethrough and. in communicationwith an annular "groove 66 in the circumferenceof said body. Said valvebody 64: being thus a fixtur efupon ,the

end of said carbon rod .57; I provide it with means to manuallyadjnstably vary its effective length, including the: screw 68 which is{axially-adjustable in coaxial relation with said body at the endthereof remote from saidrod. Said screw 6 8 maybe turned by its indexarm 69 which projectsradially therefrom and has its outer endoverhanging the scale of graduatmnsZO onjsaid casing as indicated inFig.II. The set screw 71 s n scr w h e d d gag ent w said valve bodyu64 insuch position, that it may be used to clamp said screw '68 in itsadjusted position. Said screw 71 also serves to prevent rotation ofvalve bodytfi l, while permitting axial movement thereof throughout thedesired range, by engagement with the-notch? in said-bearing 68.

, Although said valve stem 51 may ,-be of such lengtl as to reach the 5head of said screwf68 as a matter-oi economy in cost of constructionthereof; I prefer to make said stem 51; shorter, as indicated, andsupplement it by a push rod73, which extends between the end of said(stem 51 and Said screw 68.- It is to: -be understood that the.

rotary adj ustmentLofL said screw 68 is effec'- tive to predetermine theprecise degree s of heat "of the water 18 at which said-main-v valve Qmay b permittedjto. close under pressure of its spring 55 and, as-abovenoted, that critical temperature is ordinarily 170 F; However, byretracting said screw 68 from said valve body 64, more orless,

said valve 50 may be thereby held off its seat i1 until the waterl8oreachesacorre spondingly higher temperature and, con-c versely, byshifting said screw GEE-further into said valve body 64; said main valve50 may be 'permittedto be closed by its spring at a lower temperaturethan 170F. The range of that adjustmentis indicated by the extent ofsaid scale 70, to wit, about onethirdof.arevolution of said screw 68..However, it is-to be understood that a'greater range of adjustment. maybe attained by employing push "pieces v73 of diiierent lengths.

I find it preferable to so calibrate the automatically operativestructure above described that the outer edge of the groove 66 in thevalve body 6 is presented half way acrosslthe cylindrical portat thenormal temperature of 170 F.;

that position; any further increment in tem: perature of the-water 18surrounding the thermostatic couple elongates the copper tube '88,vcausing the carbonrod 57 ,which is attachedqat the inner end thereof, todraw said valve 64 inwardly and thus rapidly reduce the remainingsemicircular area of said port 60 with consequent reduction of the 'maybe used to variably restrict the effective area of said port 60, inaccordance with so that after the j main valve 50 is closed with saidvalve 64 in their axial adjustment. That is to say; said' screws75 maybet-retracted to leave the full circulararea of said ports 60unobstructed, or said screws may be inserted to restrict theetfeictiverarea of said port 60 more or less down to the minimum. Ofcourse, such manual adjustment of the effective area of ,the bypass isentirely independent of the automatic COI'ltTOlzlZhBl'QOf by vthe valve64 and its appurtenances. above described.

Itis to be noted thatwhereas the ordinary thermostatically controlled;gas water heater, for household use, consumes an average of fiftycubicfeet of gasper hour, witliconsiderable waste for the reasons abovearecited; Isfind it possible to operate. a heater in accordance with myinvention to supply substantiallythe same quantity 015 hot water assuchordinaryheaters .bythe consumption a of not, more ,than twenty fivevcubic,- ifeet not. i

gas per hour, when the container 9 is provided with a suitable exteriorjacket of heat insulating material. In such embodiment; the maximum areaof the bypass conduit is such as to supply the burner 3 at the rate often cubic feet per hour, but the efi'ective area of said bypass isvariably limited as above described so that when the main valve 50 isclosed by the automatic operation of the device at the criticaltemperature of 170 F; the water in the container may be maintained atthat temperature by comsumption of gas atthe rate of approximately twocubic feet per hour until the heated water is withdrawn, permitting coldwater to enter the container 9;. whereupon, both valves 50 and 64 areopened to permit the maximum flow of fuel gas to the burner 3 at therate of twenty-five cubic feet per hour until the water in the container9 is restored to the desired temperature. However, it is to beunderstood that 1 do not desire to restrict the use of my invention tosuch small gas consumption or to the temperature range above described,as the adjustable devices specified permit the operation of the heaterto maintain the water 18 at any desired temperature.

Although I have shown a main valve 50 and an auxiliary valve 64: both incommunication with a single gas inlet and a single gas outlet leading toa single burner; of course, the bypass conduit may lead to said pilotburner 4, distinct from said main burner 8. For instance, a pipe 77leading to said burner 4 may be substituted for the screw 7 5 at theright hand side of Fig. III.

Moreover, although I have found it convenient to illustrate mythermostatically operative valve in conjunction with a water heater of aspecific type; it is to be understood that I do not desire to limitmyself to that embodiment, as it is obvious that such valves may be usedfor other purposes, and various modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the essential features of my invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas water heater; the combination with a water container; of aburner arranged to heat the water in said container; 21 main gas valvecontrolling a main fuel gas conduit leading to said burner; a bypassconduit leading to said burner, around said main valve; an auxiliaryvalve controlling said bypass conduit; a spring normally tending toclose said main valve; a single thermostatic element extending in saidcontainer and in operative relation with both said valves, arranged tocontinually hold said auxiliary valve open, but thereby vary theeffective area of said bypass, in accordance with the temperature of thewater in said container, and arranged to open said main valve at apredetermined temperature, and permit said main valve to be closed, at apredetermined temperature, by said spring; and means adjustable tovariably determine the temperatures at which said valves shall beoperated; whereby the heating effect of said burner is automaticallydetermined and controlled to regulate the temperature of the water insaid container and compensate for variations in such temperature,consequent upon withdrawal of hot water and influx of cold water withrespect to said container.

2. In a gas water heater; the combination with a water container; of aburnerarranged to heat the water in said container; a main gas valvecontrolling a main fuel gas conduit leading to said burner; a bypassconduit leading to said burner, around said main valve; an auxiliaryvalve controlling said bypass condult; a spring noriii-ally tending toclose said main valve; a thermostatic element extending in saidcontainer and in operative relation with both said valves, arranged tocontinually hold said auxiliary valve open, but thereby vary theeffective area of said bypass, in accordance with the temperature of thewater in said container, and arranged to open said nain valve at a andpermit said main valve to be closed, at a predetermined temperature, bysaid spring; whereby the heating effect of said urner is automaticallydetermined and controlled to regulate the temperature of the water insaid container and compensate for variations in such temperature,consequent upon withdrawal of hot water and influx of cold water withrespect to said container.

3. In a gas water heater; the combination with a water container; of aburner arranged to heat the water in said container; a main gas valvecontrolling a main fuel gas conduit leading to said burner; a bypassconduit leading to said burner, around said main valve; an auxiliaryvalve controlling said bypass conduit; a thermostatic element inoperative relation with both said valves, arranged to continually holdsaid auxiliary valve open, but thereby vary the effective area of saidbypass, in accordance with the temperature of the water in saidcontainer, and arranged to open said main valve at a predeterminedtemperature, and permit said main valve to be closed, at a predeterminedtemperature; and means adjustable to variably determine the temperatureat which said valve shall be operated; whereby the heating effect ofsaid burner is automatically determined and controlled to regulate thetemperature of the water in said container and compensate for variationsin such temperature, consequent upon withdrawal of hot waterpredetermined temperature,

, i said c ntainer.

a influx arter al-alter waares ea' a o, .7 a gas water heater; thecombination with a water container,voi a burner, arranged to heat thewater in usaid containe'r; a main' gas valve controlling a main fuel gasconduit leading to said burner; a bypass conduit leading to said burner,aroundsaid main valve; auxiliary valve controlling s iafbyp'ass conduit;andka- J trolled to regulate the temperature of xtlhe water in saidcontainer andcompensatelfor tainer.

variations; in. temperature, consequent upon withdrawal of hot water andnflux of vcold water with respect to sard con- ;5. 1e con binationwitha; valve casing; of a main gas valve controlling a manr gas conduitvin ;said :casingg. a bypass wnduit around said main valve; an auxiliaryvalve controlllng sa d bypass condu t a spr ng normally tending to closesaid main valve a thermostatic element inoperative relat on'withbothsaid valves, arranged to continnally, hold saidauxiliary. valveopen,but-- thereby vary the effective area of said by pass, inaccordance with the temperature,

andarranged .toopen 'said main valve at a predetermined temperature,andpermit SiLlCl' mainvalve to be closed, at a predetermined temerauiratysfid spring and means adiustable to variably determine thetempera- 45 -tures at which said valve shall be" operated;

whereby the heatingffiect' of said bu rner is automatically determinedaa-aeonraiied to regulate the temperature of the water in said containerand compensate for variations in such temperature, consequent uponwithdrawal of hot water and influx of cold water with respect to saidcontainer.

6. The combination with a valve casing,

of a main gas valve controlling a main gas conduit 1n said casing; abypass conduit around said main valve; an auxiliary valve controllingsaid bypass conduit; a spring normally tending to close said main valve;and a thermostatic element in operative relation with both said valves,arranged to continually hold said auxiliary valve open, but thereby varythe effective area of said bypass, in accordance with the temperature,and arranged to open said main valve at a predetermined temperature, andpermit said main valve to be closed,"at a prede-' rammed ampeiaure, ysaid 5 spr ng; whereby the heatingfleft'ect of said. burner isautomatically determined and controlled toregulatellie temperature ofthe in said container and compensate. for varlations in suchtemperature, consequentnpon withdrawal of hot-water andinfiux ofooldstatic couple including a copper tubefixe at one end in sa d casing,andv a carbon rod fixed at one endin said tube, andattached at the otherend to saidauxiliaryvalve.and

in operative relation with bothsaidvalves, 1 i

arranged tocontinually "hold said auxil iary valve open, but therebyvary the ef-' fective area of said-bypass, in accordance with thetemperature, and arranged-to open said main valve ata predeterminedtemperature, and permit said main valve to be closed, at a predeterminedtemperature;

and adjustable means, including. a screw axially adjustable in saidauxiliary; valve, arranged to variably" determine the .t'emperaturefs atwhich said" valves shall be operated. I i

8'. The combination with a valve casing; of a main gas valve controllinga main fuel gas conduit; a bypassconduit around said main valve"; anau'xi liary valve controlling said bypass conduit a thermostatic coupleincluding a Gripper; tube fixed at one end in said casing, and carnel anfixed at one end in said tube, attached, atj fthe other end said auxiliay v. a M Y l in operative relationwrtli b'othsai'dwa v ranged: tcommunit hold said, auxiliary valve pen; but t area of said bypass, inaccordanoewitlithe temperature, and. arranged to] open said mzrin'valveat a predetermined temperature, and permit said main valve to be closed,at a predetermined temperature; and adjustable means, including a screwaxially adjustable in said auxiliary valve, arranged to variably valvesshall be operated.-

9. The combination with a valve casing;

of a main gas valve controlling a main fuel gas conduit; a bypassconduit around said main valve; an auxiliary valve controlling saidbypass conduit; a spring normally tending to close said main valve; anda thermostatic couple including a copper tube fixed at one end in saidcasing, and a carbon rod fixed at one end in said tube, and attached atthe other end to said auxiliary valve and inoperative relation with bothsaid valves, arranged to continually hold said auxiliary valve open, butthereby vary the effective area of said bypass, in accordance with thetemperature, and arranged to open said main valve at a predeterminedtemperature, and permit said main-valve to be closed, at a predeterminedtemperature, by said spring; and adjustable means arranged to variablydetermine the temperatures at which said valves shall be operated.

10. The combination with a valve casing; of a main gas valve controllinga main fuel gas conduit; a bypass conduit around said main valve; anauxiliary valve controlling said by-pass conduit: a spring normallytending to close said main valve; and a thermostatic couple including acopper tube fixed at one end in said casing, and a carbon rod fixed atone end in said tube, and attached at the other end to said auxiliaryvalve and in operative relation with both said valves, arranged tocontinually hold said auxiliary valve open but thereby vary theeffective area of said bypass, in accordance with the temperature, andarranged to open said main valve at a predetermined temperature, andpermit said main valve to be closed, at a predetermined temperature, bysaid spring.

11. The combination with a. valve casing; of a main gas valvecontrolling a main fuel gas conduit; a bypass conduit around said mainvalve; an auxiliary valve controlling said bypass conduit; and athermostatic couple including a copper tube fixed at one end in saidcasing, and a carbon rod fixed at one end in said tube, and attached atthe other end to said auxiliary valve and in operative relation withboth said valves, arranged to continually hold said auxiliary valveopen, but thereby vary the efl'ective area of said bypass, in accordancewith the temperature, and arranged to open said main valve at apredetermined temperature, and permit said main valve to be closed, at apredetermined temperature.

12. The combination with a valvecasing;

of a main gas valve controlling a main fuel gas conduit; a bypassconduit around said main valve; an auxilary valve controlling saidbypass conduit; and a thermostatic couple including a copper tube fixedat one end in said casing, and a carbon rod fixed at on end in saidtube, and attached at the other end to said auxiliary valve and inoperative relation with both said valves.

13. The combination with a valve casing; of a main gas valve controllinga main fuel gas conduit; a. bypass conduit around said main valve; anauxiliary valve controlling said bypass conduit; and a thermostaticcouple including a tube fixed at one end in said casing, and a rod fixedat one end in said tube, and attached at the other end to said auxiliaryvalve and in operative relation with both said valves.

14. The combination with a valve casing; of a main gas valve controllinga main fuel gas conduit; a bypass conduit around said main valve; anauxiliary valve controlling said bypass conduit; and a single thermostatarranged to control both said valves, in succession.

15. The combination with a valve casing: of a main gas valve controllinga main fuel gas conduit; a bypass conduit around said main valve; anauxiliary valve controlling said bypass conduit; and a thermostaticcouple including a tube fixed, at one end in said casing, and a rodfixed at one end in said tube, and attached at the other end to saidauxiliary valve, arranged to open and partly close said auxiliary valve,and to open said main valve at predetermined temperatures.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this eighteenth day of July, 1924:.

ROBERT J. DOUGHERTY.

lVitnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, CAROLINE E. REUTER.

